Richard Colbeck (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Hansard source

My apology, Mr Acting Deputy President. Just yesterday Mr Rudd said that he would take a different approach to business, and yet we see the government continue to proceed with legislation under the gag that will add cost of government to business.

You cannot believe a word this Prime Minister says, just as you could not believe a word the previous Prime Minister said. The previous Prime Minister told us, 'There will be no carbon tax under a government I lead,' then proceeded to introduce one. The new Prime Minister said, 'We will take a new approach to business,' then proceeded to continue with the old approach to business: add cost of government to business. The government talk about Australia being the food bowl of Asia. All they do is make us less competitive and make it more difficult to get product out of the country. Export fees and charges under this government have risen by up to 1,600 per cent for a small operator. We cannot afford to get our product out of the country, let alone be the food bowl of Asia. The government with this piece of legislation is doing more of the same, joined happily, I must say, by the Greens.

Senator Siewert interjecting—

I am pleased you make the interjection, Senator Siewert—the acknowledgement that you are adding cost to business, because that is exactly what this bill does.